Method for the Discovery, Validation and Clinical Application of Multiplex Biomarker Algorithms Based on Optical, Physical And/Or Electromagnetic Patterns

1. A method for determining the current or future probability of shock, comprising: measuring the optical and electromagnetic properties of tissue at multiple physiologically distinct locations on or within the patient's body; utilizing the anatomic, or anatomic and temporal, patterns of the measured tissue properties, with or without other variables, in a multiparametric algorithm or equation that is predictive or diagnostic of shock; and transforming the output results of the algorithm to a uniplex numerical or visual scale or index that is a probabilistic indicative of the current or future probability of a systemic medical condition.

2. A method for discovery and development of clinically useful synthetic biomarkers indicative of the current or future probability of shock, comprising: measuring the optical or electromagnetic properties of tissue at multiple physiologically distinct locations on or within the body in the setting of experimentally induced, clinically occurring shock, shock mimics, or normals; using known machine learning techniques to derive a multiparametric prognostic or diagnostic algorithm that includes, among other variables, anatomic, or anatomic and temporal, patterns of optical, electromagnetic, or physical measurements, such that the algorithm has better clinical performance than any of the input parameters individually; optimizing the algorithm iteratively using additional clinical data sets, clinical classifiers, along with patient characteristics and laboratory derived measurements as needed; and transforming the output results of the algorithm to a uniplex numerical or visual scale or index that is a probabilistic indicative of the current or future probability of a systemic medical condition.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2 , further comprising the algorithm being developed or utilized as a therapeutic adjunct for the treatment of shock, and would function as a goal for directing therapy.

4. A method according to claim 1 or 2 , further comprising one or more of the tissue state measurements being obtained after administration of at least one of physical, chemical, biologic or pharmacologic agents.

5. A method according to claim 1 or 2 , further comprising the performance of the algorithm being user modifiable so as to optimize a combination of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, receiver operatory characteristic curves or the time before shock becomes clinically manifest.

6. A method according claim 1 or 2 , further comprising incorporation of the optimized algorithm, with or without other refinements, and along with associated numerical, visual scale or indices, into a stand-alone or pre-existing diagnostic or monitoring system.

7. A method according claim 1 or 2 , further comprising use of one or more physical properties of tissue, such as temperature, density, weight, hydration state, transmission of sound and any combination of the foregoing, in the algorithm.

8. A method according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein at least one of the optical measurements comprise near infra-red spectroscopy (NIRS), Raman spectroscopy, speckle, or surface plasmon resonance.

9. A method according to claim 1 or 2 , further comprising additional optimization of the algorithm or its result by inclusion of pre-existing or laboratory technologies as inputs to the machine learning process.

10. A method according to claim 1 or 2 , further comprising additional optimization of the algorithm or its result by inclusion of patient, clinical, hospital or epidemiology data as inputs to the machine learning process.

11. A method according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein a component of the anatomic pattern is depth below the skin, or distance from the sensor, on or within the body.

12. A method according to claim 2 , further comprising use of multiple classifiers, each possibly weighted differently, in development of the algorithm, so as to optimize its clinical performance.

13. A method according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein at least one of the electromagnetic or optical measurements is indicative of cardiac function, such as the electrocardiogram, heart rate, cardiac output or ventricular stroke volume.

14. A method according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein at least one of the optical measurements is indicative of tissue oxygen or energy status.

15. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the category of disease is toxic shock; wherein the multiplicity of the optical and electromagnetic properties are selected from the group consisting tissue oxygen, tissue perfusion, tissue pH or any combination thereof; wherein the multiplicity of physiologically distinct locations are selected from the group consisting of cephalic, ocular, oral, truncal, appendicular or any combination thereof; and, wherein the multiplicity of anatomic, or anatomic and temporal patterns are selected from the group consisting of appendicular earlier, appendicular intermediate, appendicular later, truncal earlier, truncal intermediate, truncal later, cephalic earlier, cephalic intermediate, cephalic later, ocular earlier, ocular intermediate, ocular later, oral earlier, oral intermediate, oral later, or any combination thereof.